Rack construction



June 8, 1965 c. R. OLTZ RACK CONSTRUCTION Filed Aug. 20', 1963 INVENTOR. Charles E. 022;

United States Patent 3,187,903 RACK CONSTRUCTION Charles R. Oltz, 8440 Forrest Ave., Munster, Ind. Filed Aug. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 303,359 Claims. (Cl. 21187) The present invention relates to a rack construction. In particular, the construction of this invention comprises a holder construction for use in retaining packets of the type employed for packaging soups, powdered concentrate for soft drinks and similar granular type materials.

It is well-known that manufacturers have resorted to the packaging of materials, particularly food products, in flat rectangular packets. Since these packets are relatively small, they often are misplaced in the kitchen. Furthermore, many such packets are manufactured of paper and, if stored in a drawer, are susceptible to breaking open whereby all or a part of the contents will be lost.

It is an object of this invention to provide a unique holder construction which is particularly designed for use in the kitchen whereby food products of the type packaged in small packets can be conveniently and safely stored.

It is an additional object of this invention to provide .a holder construction capable of functioning in the described manner and also being characterized by an extremely simple and economical manner of manufacture and use.

These and other objects of this invention will appear hereinafter and for purposes of illustrationbut not of limitation, specific embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a holder construction characterized by the features of this invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the back side of the holder construction of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged perspective vertical crosssectional view of the holder construction; and,

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view of a blank used in forming the holder construction.

The holder construction of this invention generally comprises a sheet secured in the assembly in a manner such that a plurality of closed bottom and side walls are defined by the sheet whereby holding compartments will be provided. An overlapping relationship is achieved in the assembly whereby a large number of such compartments can be achieved within a relatively small area.

In accordance with the specific concepts of this invention, the overlapping compartment-forming sheet is formed of a translucent heat scalable material. Accordingly, each of the compartments can be provided in a simple assembly operation wherein the sheet is properly folded and the side and bottom edges of the compartments are secured together. Since a translucent material is employed, packets stored within the compartments can be viewed without removal of the packets. Identification of the product retained in the packet is thus possible when the construction is openly displayed.

A further specific feature of the instant invention relates to a means for securing the construction to a support whereby the packets held therein will be readily available. In this connection, pressure sensitive adhesive material is formed on the back face of the assembly, and protective strips are provided for overlying this pressure sensitive material. When it is desired to attach the construction to a given surface, the strips can be removed and the backing secured by merely pressing the backing against the surface.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an assembly which constitutes the holder construction of this invention. This assembly comprises a top portion 12 having a flexible sheet 14 secured at the bottom edge thereof. As best shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, the flexible sheet defines a transverse top edge 16 which is connected to the top portion 12. A first fold 18 is formed in the sheet and the sheet is then returned to a second fold 20 whereby the upper pocket will be defined. The next folds 22 and 24 define a second pocket and in this manner the several pockets illustrated can be provided by means of a single plastic sheet.

It will be noted that in the illustrated constructions, the several pockets are caused to overlap whereby a plurality of pockets can be provided in a relatively small area. This is accomplished by placing the folds in spaced-apart relationship over both the back and front faces of the assembly. It will be noted, however, that each of the pockets can be of the same size to provide uniformity in the construction. This is not necessarily a limiting feature, however, since it may be desirable to provide pockets of a different size, and it will be apparent that this can be accomplished without difficulty.

A centrally located vertical line 26 comprises a line of securement whereby the assembly defines a pair of pockets at each level. It will be apparent that two or more such lines of separation could be provided or such separation could be eliminated. The use of this feature will largely depend upon the size of the pockets desired and the size of the over-all assembly.

FIGURE 2 illustrates the back surface of the assembly. Pressure sensitive adhesive areas 27 are formed on this surface, and protective strips 28 are provided over this adhesive when the assembly is manufactured. It will be apparent that upon removing these strips, the assembly can be pressed into place for attachment to a wall, cupboard door or the like. It will be noted in this connection that the flexible character of the assembly is of major importance since the construction can be applied to uneven surfaces. The use of a pressure sensitive adhesive is also of importance in this regard. The removable protective strips for covering the pressure sensitive adhesive portion eliminate any inconvenience resulting from handling of the structure prior to its installation.

The translucent material employed for forming the pockets or compartments in the rack construction is preferably provided with an uneven surface to facilitate removal and insertion of article. For example, by providing a ribbed surface, clinging of the material 14 with respect to the smooth surface of a packet will be avoided. Conventional vinyl sheet materials can be utilized for this purpose, however, it will be understood that the sheet can be manufactured of a variety of conventional materials having the characteristics described herein. In this connection, the preferred heat sealing characteristics can be made available by reason of the inherent nature of the materials, or by reason of the application of coatings on one or both of the materials.

The flexible nature of the sheet material also contributes to the advantages of the described rack construction. Thus, the construction is foldable for easy storing and also for mailing.

In the manufacture of the rack construction illustrated, a blank of the type shown at 29 in FIGURE 4 can be employed. It will be noted that the fold lines (illustrated by dash lines) divide the blank into alternate sections of different sizes. The large sections 30 define the back wall of each pocket while the small sections 32 define the front wall. Various marking techniques could be employed for facilitating properly folding the illustrated blank, and, in addition, the illustrated blank is capable of being handled by automatic folding mechanisms.

To provide the permanent assembly, the blank is folded to the desired configuration and the top portion 12 is then associated therewith. A suitable heated die can then be brought into engagement with these portions of the assembly whereby heat sealing along the sides, bottom and center and at the juncture between the top portion and the sheet 14 can be accomplished.

Various other advantages will be apparent when considering the described holder construction. It will be noted that a space is provided by the top portion 12, and this space can be employed for printing of information such as cooking times and temperatures for various products. Furthermore, since the construction is provided with adhesive portions on its back side, there is no need to provide hooks which would mar the surfaces of cupboard doors or kitchen walls. Finally, the particular overlapping arrangement of the pockets in the construction greatly facilitates removal of the various articles since the tops of each article included therein Will be at a different level for easy grasping with the fingers.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the construction described above which provide the characteristics of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof particularly as defined in the following claims.

That which is claimed is:

1. A holder construction comprising an assembly including a plurality of pockets, said pockets being formed by means of a single, folded, flexible sheet of translucent, heat sealable plastic material, said pockets being arranged in overlapping relationship in said assembly with each pocket being closed alongits bottom by means of a fold in said sheet and being heat sealed at its sides, and including adhesive portions formed on the face of said assembly opposite said pockets, and a removable protective strip for covering said adhesive portions.

'2. A holder construction comprising an assembly including a flexible top portion and a plurality of pockets disposed beneath said top portion, said. pockets being formed by means of a single, folded, flexible sheet of translucent, heat sealable plastic material, said pockets being arranged in overlapping relationship-in said assembly with each pocket being closed along its bottom by means of a fold in said sheet and being heat sealed at its sides, and said sheet is heat sealed to said top portion and is heat sealed along the bottom and side edges defined by the assembly, and including at least one heat sealed vertical line of securement located intermediate said side edges whereby at least two Vertical rows of said pockets are defined in said construction.

3. A holder construction comprising an assembly including a flexible top portion and a plurality of pockets disposed beneath said top portion, said pockets being 1 s formed by means of a single, folded, flexible sheet of translucent, heat sealable plastic material, said pockets being arranged in overlapping relationship in said assembly with each pocket being closed along its bottom by means of a fold in said sheet and being heat sealed at its sides, and including one adhesive portion formed in the back face of said top portion and a second adhesive portion formed on the back face of said sheet, and removable protective strips for covering said adhesive portions.

4. A holder construction comprising an assembly including a flexible top portion and a plurality of pockets disposed beneath said top portion, said pockets being formed by means of a single, folded, flexible sheet of translucent, heat sealable plastic material, said sheet including a top edge attached to the bottom edge of said top portion, said sheet being divided into a plurality of integral sections including a first section extending downwardly from said top edge to a first fold forming the bottom of a first pocket, the next section of said sheet extending upwardly from said first fold to a point short of said top edge with said sheet forming a second fold at this point, and including a plurality of additional downwardly and upwardly extending sections with a plurality of first and second folds being formed by said sections, each succeeding first fold being spaced below said first mentioned first fold, and each succeeding second fold being spaced below said first mentioned second fold, and wherein the lowermost of said downwardly extending sections is coextensive with the lowermost of said first folds, said construction being heat sealed about its lateral edges and along the bottom edge defined by said coextensive lowermost portions.

5. A holder construction in accordance with claim 4 wherein the surface of said sheet is uneven to thereby facilitate insertion and removal of articles from said compartments.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,291,914 1/19 Kelley 15028 1,564,967 12/25 Kulick l28 2,102,690 12/37 Fischer v\ 211-87 2,671,487 3/54 Hock l50-28.1 2,764,099 3/55 Wikle l50-28 2,754,867 7/56 Langer l50-1 2,761,481 9/56 Boatwright 1 2,878,849 3/59 Lingenfelter l501 X CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HOLDER CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING AN ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF POCKETS, SAID POCKETS BEING FORMED BY MEANS OF A SINGLE, FOLDED, FLEXIBLE SHEET OF TRANSLUCENT, HEAT SEALABLE PLASTIC MATERIAL, SAID POCKETS BEING ARRANGED IN OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP IN SAID ASSEMBLY WITH EACH POCKET BEING CLOSED ALONG ITS BOTTOM BY MEANS OF A FOLD IN SAID SHEET AND BEING HEAT SEALED AT ITS SIDES, AND INCLUDING ADHESIVE PORTIONS FORMED ON THE FACE OF SAID ASSEMBLY OPPOSITE SAID POCKETS, AND A REMOVABLE PROTECTIVE STRIP FOR COVERING SAID ADHESIVE PORTIONS. 